Well drilling rig



SPL 8, 1936 J. P. HERKE 2,053,715

WELL DRILLING RIG Filed Nov. l2, 1955 INVENTOR. HERA/E Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Joseph P. Herke, Yakima, Wash.

vApplication November 12, 1935, Serial No. 49,409

6 Claims.

The invention aims primarily to provide a new and improved well drilling rig inwhich a group` of drilling stems and a group of individual drilling bits carried by the stems, are simultaneously actuated to form the hole, the stems being carried by individual cables having separately operable drums, and all of said cables being simultaneously actuated by a walking beam or in other suitable way, to reciprocate the drilling stems andl bits. Thus, should rock fall into the hole below the casing as often occurs, there the hole and drill and insuring formation of a straight hole.

A still further object is to provide the drilling stem sections and the bit sections of such form that they will lie non-rotatably against each other during operation, to rise and fall as a single unit. l

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to. the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing portions of a portable drilling rig embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through 40 the drilling stems, on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the drilling bits, on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

-`Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the group of bits.

l Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the bits. x Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the drill ing stems.

A frame I0 is shown having three pulleys l for -three drilling cables I2, for which cable, nthree individual drums I3 are provided, said drums having separate driving mechanisms, por- /tions of which are shown in the form of gears Ill.V The cables I2 arev actuated by` any pr- 55 ferred means such as the walking beam I5 hav- (Cl. Z55-2) ing cable-engaging pulleys I6, and the operat-l ing means I'I for said walking beam.

Three separate or individual drilling stems I8 are carried by the three cables I2 respectively, and the lower ends of said stems I3 are `pro- I5 vided with separate or individual drilling bits I9. Both the stems I8 and the bits I9 are of truly or substantially segmental form to lie nonrotatably against each other during simultaneous reciprocation of said stems and bits during 10 the drilling operation. The upper ends of the bit sections I9 are provided with integral threaded studs and -the lower ends of the stern sec-r tions I8 are formed with threaded sockets 2| to receive said studs.- The upper ends of the stem 15 sections I8 are provided also with threaded studs 22, one of which is seen in Fig. 6, and these studs are threaded into the usual or any preferred cable connectors 23 which are secured t'o the cables I2. At suitable locations, the stem sections I8 and bit sections I9 are provided with appropriate formations 24 and 25to be engaged by a wrench when connecting the bit sections with the stem sections, the formations 24 being also used when connecting the connectors 23 with said stem sections.

The lower ends of the bit sectionsj are suitably sharpened and theirlower edges 26 prefer- -ably incline upwardly from their outer to their inner ends, causing the bit sections and stems to crowd outwardly under the impact of drilling. This insures that the drilling means shall be properly guided by the wall of the hole at the end of each drilling blow to form a straight hole but upon ascent, the sections of said drilling means may readily clear the wall of the hole insteadof binding with excessive `friction thereon.

In operation, all o-f the cables I 2 are simultaneously, uniformly and unidirectionally reciprocated to raise and permit descent of the stem sections I8 and bit sections I9 as a single unit. In case any rock should fall below the well casing, there is little likelihood that it will lock all of the sections against withdrawal. The chances are that there will' be a possibility of withdrawing at least one of the stem sections I8 and its bit section I9 by operating the proper drum I3, and the chances are that such withdrawal of the one section will so loosen the other sections as to permit them also to bev readily pulled from the well. There is thus little danger of the entire drill becoming stuck in the well so that it cannot be salvaged, as often occurs with drills of conventional types. Y v

The general construction shown and described 55 2 for the stem sections Il and the bit sections I9. may be followed ii desired. While operating cables equal in number to the stem sections would always be employed, together with indel5 pendent me'ans for winding any one of said cables independently oi the others, it is to be understood .that the actuating means for moving' the cables to reciprocate the drill, may be ol! any conventional or desired form, the present showing being l0 illustrative rather than limiting.

, I claim:l

l. In a well drilling rig, a group of separate drilling stem sections to jointly drill a single hole,

said stem sections having individual drilling bit 15 sections; individual cables connected with said stem sections, and means for simultaneously actuating said cables to actuate said stem and bit sections; whereby-il rock should fall under the well casing upon the stem sections, there would 20 be little likelihood of said rock locking allor mld stem sections, and withdrawal of a free stem section of the group would loosen the remainder of said group. a

2. In a yyvell drilling rig, a group of separate i5 drilling stem sections to jointly drill a single hole,

said stem sections having individual drilling bit sections; individual cables connectedr with said stem sections, individual winding drums for said cables, and means for simultaneously actuating 3 said cables to actuate said stem and bit sections;

whereby if rock should fall under the well casing upon the stem sections, there would be little likelihood of said rock locking all of said stem sections, and withdrawal of a ilee stem section of the group would loosen the remainder of said sections being provided with individual drilling bit sections, the upper ends of said stem sections being provided with individual cable-attaching means. Y

5. In a well drill, a group of drilling stem sections of segmental form to abut each other during operation, the upper ends of said stem sections being provided with cable-attaching means, the

lower ends of said stem sections being provided 2.5

with bit-attaching means.

6. In a well drill, a stem section of segmental cross-section having cable-attaching means at its upper end and bit-attaching means at its lower end.

JOSEPH P. HERKE. 3 

